Steam pipe ball joint coupling



w. A. STAPP STEAM PIPE BALL JONT COUPLING.

June 9, 1942.

Filed Feb. 12, 1941 Patented June 9, 1942 UNITED STATES cargar orgies V2,286,122 STEAM PIPE BLL JOINT COUPLING Wiuiam A; stapt, Elko, Nev.

Application February 12, 1941, Serial No. 378,659

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a pipe joint or coupling. f

An object of this invention is to provide an improved steam pipe joint wherein the coupled elements may move relative to each other.

In couplings of the ball joint type at present available, where two elements are coupled together by a sliding and pivoted joint or coupling, it has been found that a proper seal cannot be maintained between the elements and if the packing about the joint is tightened to seal the joint, the elements are locked together. It is, therefore, another object. of this invention to provide a coupling of this character wherein the several movable parts may be lubricated in such a manner as to prevent freezing of the joint.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a joint of this character, means whereby the coupling may be lubricated fromv within the innermost element so that the packing will not harden and the two elements may move endwise of the joint in addition to swinging one relative to the other.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modiiications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing, there is disclosed a fragmentary longitudinal section of a'pair of elements coupled together with a joint embodying this invention.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates generally a steam chest which is adapted to be coupled to a valve chamber II. The chamber II is shown fragmentarily and as here shown comprising a cylindrical element telescopes partly into the open end of the chest I0 and is substantially smaller in diameter'than the diameter of the chest III. The chest I0 is provided adjacent the free orV open end thereof with an enlarged cylindrical bushing I2 forming a cylindrical inner chamber I3 which is substantially larger in diameter than the inner diameter of the chest I0 and a shoulder I II is formed at the inner end of the bushing I2 where it is connected with the chest IIJ;

An annular iiange or valve head I5is formed integral with the boss or bushing I2 and the ange I5 isprovdedwith a plurality of circum-` ferentfially spaced apart threaded openings I6 in which bolts, studs or the like are adapted to threadably engaged.

An annular ring or socket forming member Il is disposed within the bushing I2 and is provided with parallel inner and outer faces and a cylindrical outer periphery which engages the bore I3 of the bushing I2.A The ring or socket forming member I'I is adapted at its inner end to abut against the shoulder i4 and the ring or socket forming member I- is provided with a concave inner surface I8 within which a partispherical joint forming member is adapted to engage as will be hereinafter described.

`An inner annular parti-spherical member I9 is disposed loosely about the periphery of the inner member I I and engages the concave surface I8 of the inner socket forming member I'I. The inner member I9 isprovided with a cylindrical bore ZI] in which theinner member II slidably engages. A second or outer parti-sphericalmember 2| is disposed about the inner mem ber, being formed with a cylindrical bore 22 in which the inner member II loosely engages and the outer parti-spherical vmember, 2l is adapted at its inner end vto abut against the outer end of theinner member I9 and form a substantially ball joint by means of which the two members IIland I I may p-ivotone relative to the other.

An outer socket forming member 23 is adapted to engage the outer vball `forming member 2| being provided with an inner concave surface 24 and a cylindrical outer surface 25 which outer surface engages within'the bore I3 of the bushing I2. The outer socket forming member 23 is adapted to snugly engage the arcuate sur face of the joint member -2I and this outer member 23 is provided with an integral annular flange 26 which is adap-ted to abut against the flange I5 and thereby held thereagainst by means of bolts or fastening devices 2'I which are threaded into the threaded openings I6.

As shown in the drawing, the inner end of the out-er socket forming member 23 is spaced from the outer end ofthe inner socket forming member I'I so as to therebyV form-therebetween an annular lubricating chamber 28. The. bushing or annular enlargement I2 is provided with a passage 29 therethrough having threads 3Q for receiving a lubricating fitting so that a suitable lubricant may be discharged through the opening 29 into the lubricating chamber 28. In this manner, the contacting surfaces of the socket forming members I'I, and 23rrand the .outer surfaces of the ball forming members I9 and 2| may be properly lubricated to permit swinging or pivotal movement of the two members I and I| relative to each other.

A cylindrical member 3| engages in complementary annular recesses 32 and 33 which are formed in the ball forming members I9 and 2|, respectively, and the cylind-rical member 3| is provided centrally of the ends thereof with an annular lubricating groove or channel 34 with which a lubricating channel 35 communicates. The lubricating channel 35 is formed partly in the ball forming member I9 and partly in the ball forming member 2| and communicates at its outer end with the annular lubricating chamber 28. There may be as many of these lubricatingy channels 35 as may be desired, there being two shown which are disposed in diametricallyl opposed relation. also provided in its periphery with a plurality of longitudinally extending lubricating channels 36,.

which at one end communicateV with theinner end of the lubricating channel. or duct 35.` and at the other end communicate with a radial lubricating channel 31 formed` in` the inner end of the cylindrical member 3|.

A plurality of cylindrical packing members' 38 are disposed within the cylindrical member 3| and have an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the inner member II. The several packing members 38 are separated one from another by means of spacer rings 39 which may be formed of metal such as brassl or the like. The packing members 38 are formed of sui-table packing material which is of such a character that the ball forming members I9 and 2| will be thoroughly sealed so as to prevent steam or other fluid from leaking out of the joint between the ball forming members I9 and 2| and the periphery of the inner member II. These packing members 38, however, permit vendwise sliding movement of the inner member |-I relative to the ball. forming members I9and 2|. The packing members 38 are held in tightly compressed condition. by means of an annular compressing ring 40, which is disposed within the cylindrical member 3| vand bears against the innermost one of the packing members 38.

The packing compressing ring 40 is held against the innermost packing member 33V by a plurality of helical springs 4| which at their outer ends bear against the inner side of the ring 4I]V and which are-seated in sockets 42 formed in the ball forming member I9. The ball forming member I9 is provided with an annular lubricating chamber 43 with which the sockets 42- communicate and the lubricating ducts 31 communicate with the lubricating chamber 43 so that the ring 4U will be lubricated from the -lubricating chamber 28. The packingv compressing ring 40 is preferablyof a diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the inner member- I| so that it mayA freely` move within the inner diameter of the cylindrical member 3|. In order to provide a means whereby the packing members 38 may be lubricated from the inside of the member so that these packing members will not become hardenedor freeze on-the periphery of the inner member. II?, I have provided Va lubricating pipe 4'4 which. at. its inner end. is welded into an opening 45, which is formed lin the inner member II anddisposed in avposition whereby the lubricant discharged from the pipeL 44 will comev into direct contact with` one or more of the packing members 38.. The.pipe.4'5.atiits 'I'he cylindrical member. 3| isinner end may be formed with a reduced jet opening 46 confronting one of the packing members 38. The pipe 44 at its inner end is formed with an arcuate extension 41, the terminal end of which is welded in the opening 45 and the pipe 44 is then extended as at 48 in a direction parallel with the surface of the inner member II to a point outwardly beyond the socket forming member 23.

The outer portion of thepipe 44 is provided with a bend 49, which is extended through an opening 50 in the wall of the inner member and is Welded as at 5| so as to provide a tight joint through which the steam or other iluid is `prevented from passing. The terminal end 52 of the pipe 44 is threaded in order to receive a suitable lubricating tting or the like by means of-.which a lubricant under pressure may be discharged through the pipe 44 and into direct contactv with one or more of the packing rings 38. As shown inthedrawing, the inner portion of the cylindrical member 3| is cut out as at 53l so that the outerends of' the springsj42 may freely move outwardlyand tightly hold the packing compressing ring; 40' against theV innermost of the packing rings.

With a coupling or joint of this kind the two elements Ill'and I'I may move endwise one relative to the other and at thel same timev may also pivot-one relative to the other, the; ball forming members I9 and 2| rotating within the socket forming members` |1 and 23. A suitable lubricant may be discharged into the lubricating chamber28 and this lubricant will ilow from the chamber`28 through the radial lubricating channels 35 into the annular lubricating channel 34 inwardly alongi the longitudinal lubricating channels 36 and then from these'latt'er channels into the radial channels 31 and into the annular lubricating chamber 43.1 In this manner the springs 4| will be provided with ,a lubricantat all times and this'lubricant will also provide a means whereby the packing compressing ring 40 will be lubricated so that this ring may freely slide Within the cylindrical member'III and along.

the peripheral surface of the inner element I'I. The packings 38 may also be lubricated from the inside of theinner element I by forcing a lubricant through the pipe 44 for discharge through the opening 46-into direct contact with one or more of the packing members 38.

What I claim is: A,

1. In combination with a` pair of telescoping fluid conducting elements, a` combined coupling and lubricating structure, a socketstructure carried by the outermost element, a ball structure slidably carried by the innermost element and engaging in said socket structure, packing means carriedyby said ball structure,v said innermost element having` a pair of spaced. openings therethrough, one of said openingsV confronting said packing meansr and the other opening being disposed exteriorly of said. socket. structure, and a U-shaped lubricant conducting pipe disposed interiorly of said inner element. and' having the ends thereof fixed in said openings.

2. In combination with a pair of telescoping fluid conducting elements, a combined coupling andv lubricating structure, a socket structure carried bythe outermost element, a ball' structure slidably carried"- by the innermost element and engaging inlsaid socket structure, packing means carried by said ball-y structure, yieldable means constantly maintaining said packing means under. compression; .saidl innermost element hav-- ing a pair of spaced openings therethrough, one of said openings confronting said packing means and the other opening being disposed exteriorly of said socket structure, and a U-shaped lubricant conducting pipe disposed interiorly of said inner element and having the ends thereof xed in said openings.

3. In combination with a pair of telescoping fluid conducting elements, a combined coupling and lubricating structure, a socket structure carried by the outermost element, a ball structure 4. In combination with a pair of telescoping fluid conducting elements, a combined coupling and lubricating structure including a socket structure carried by one of said elements, a ball structure slidably carried by the other element and engaging said socket structure, packing means carried by said ball structure, and a lubricant conducting member carried by said other element, said member having one end thereof confronting said packing means and the other end thereof extending through said other element exteriorly of said ball structure.

5. In combination with a pair of telescoping fluid conducting elements, a combined coupling and lubricating structure including a socket structure carried by one of said elements, a ball structure slidably carried by the other element and engaging said socket structure, packing means carried by said ball structure, and means Iixed relative to and extending interiorly of said other element for lubricating said packing means.

WILLIAM A. STAPP. 

